Search

Simple Summary: In this comprehensive review, we focused on the neurosurgical treatment as an integrative part of the challenging multidisciplinary management of cerebral metastases, a neuro-oncologic entity, which has been observed to have an increased incidence over the last years. In selected cases, the surgical removal of the space-occupying mass reduces the intracranial pressure, normalizes the metabolic environment, reduces the symptom burden, and allows for the intensification of local and systemic adjuvant treatment. In detail, we discuss the incidence of brain metastases, the role of surgical resection, as well as the evolution of current neurosurgical techniques, the surgical morbidity and mortality of single and multiple lesions, and we enlighten the role of surgery for recurrent tumors. The multidisciplinary management of patients with brain metastases (BM) consists of surgical resection, different radiation treatment modalities, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and targeted molecular treatment. This review presents the current state of neurosurgical technology applied to achieve maximal resection with minimal morbidity as a treatment paradigm in patients with BM. In addition, we discuss the contribution of neurosurgical resection on functional outcome, advanced systemic treatment strategies, and enhanced understanding of the tumor biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hearing preservation is one of the major goals in the surgical treatment of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) associated vestibular schwannomas (VS) and hearing diagnostics are important monitoring parameters and intraoperative tools to pursue this goal. Our monocentric retrospective analysis aimed to predict postoperative hearing deterioration or loss based on preoperative audiometry and neurophysiological (brainstem auditory evoked potentials, BAEP) findings. In this respect and according to our data evaluation in 100 NF2-associated VS of 72 patients both parameters seem to be prognostic markers, particularly BAEP findings. Large discrepancies between both audiometry and BAEPs which were identified in twenty-one cases of our cohort appear to be at high risk of significant postoperative hearing worsening. Both brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and audiometry play a crucial role in neuro-oncological treatment decisions in Neurofibromatosis Type 2 associated (NF2) vestibular schwannoma (VS) as hearing preservation is the major goal. In this study, we investigated the risk of immediate postoperative hearing deterioration (>15 dB and/or 15% loss in pure-tone average [PTA]/ speech discrimination score [SDS] in a cohort of 100 operated VS (ears) in 72 NF2 patients by retrospective analysis of pre- and postoperative hearing data (PTA, SDS, American Association of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery [AAO-HNS], and brainstem auditory evoked potential [BAEP] class) taking into account relevant influencing factors, particularly preoperative audiometry and BAEP status and the extent of resection. Immediately after surgery, the hearing was preserved in 73% of ears and approximately ~60% of ears kept their hearing classes. Preoperative BAEP (p = 0.015) and resection amount (p = 0.048) significantly influenced postoperative hearing outcome. The prediction model for postoperative hearing deterioration/loss between preoperative BAEP and AAO-HNS class showed increased risk by increasing BAEP class. Twenty-one tumors/ears were identified with large BAEP and AAO-HNS class discrepancies (≥2 points) and were associated with a high (48–100%) risk of deafness after surgery in ears with preoperative available hearing. Overall, the results were heterogeneous but the better both BAEP and audiometry class before surgery, the higher the chance of hearing maintenance afterwards. Large resection amounts (e.g., 100% risk in near-total resections) exhibit a significant (p < 0.05) higher risk compared to smaller amounts (e.g., 10/20% in laser-coagulated/partially resected tumors). Our results emphasized the indispensable role of both hearing monitoring in form of audiometry and neurophysiology (BAEP) in the pre-and perioperative monitoring of NF2-associated VS. Both BAEP and audiometry are good prognostic markers for the postoperative hearing outcome. The extent of resection should be strictly guided by and adjusted to the intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Leptomeningeal metastases occur when cancer cells reach the fluid-filled space that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This type of brain lesion is most prevalent in patients with lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. While the clinical characteristics of leptomeningeal metastases have been well described, fundamental research revealing insights into how these lesions develop and grow has only just begun. This review describes the clinical and basic science literature surrounding leptomeningeal metastases from adult solid tumors, proposing novel ways the clinical and research communities can work together to make important advances for patients suffering from this devastating complication of advanced cancer. Metastasis to the central nervous system occurs in approximately 20% of patients with advanced solid cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. While central nervous system metastases most commonly form in the brain parenchyma, metastatic cancer cells may also reside in the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain and spinal cord to form tumors called leptomeningeal metastases. Leptomeningeal metastasis involves cancer cells that reach the subarachnoid space and proliferate in the cerebrospinal fluid compartment within the leptomeninges, a sequela associated with a myriad of symptoms and poor prognosis. Cancer cells exposed to cerebrospinal fluid in the leptomeninges must contend with a unique microenvironment from those that establish within the brain or other organs. Leptomeningeal lesions provide a formidable clinical challenge due to their often-diffuse infiltration within the subarachnoid space. The molecular mechanisms that promote the establishment of leptomeningeal metastases have begun to be elucidated, demonstrating that it is a biological entity distinct from parenchymal brain metastases and is associated with specific molecular drivers. In this review, we outline the current state of knowledge pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, and molecular underpinnings of leptomeningeal metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]